The Bangui Reconciliation Forum has laid the foundation for takeoff from the shackles of war.

Peace, stability, national cohesion, economic take off and return to democracy  are expected to soon be the main characteristics of life in the Central African Republic (CAR) following the resolutions, decisions and commitments taken during the Bangui National Reconciliation  Forum  of May 4 to 11, 2015 devoted to charting a way out of crisis into growth.

The forum which brought together representatives from all the socio-cultural, economic and political strata of Central African society as well as those of the international community was a moment of frank talk and concrete actions whose implementation will be the veritable transformation moment.

Judging from the concrete actions of the forum, armed conflict will be a long forgotten happening, should the armed groups and government respect the terms of the peace agreement signed that require the groups to disarm and reintegrate the national army. Indeed, violence flared up in March 2013 when mostly Muslim Seleka rebels ousted President François Bozize and replaced him by their leader, Michel Djotodia.

This sparked reprisals from anti-balaka, or anti-machete, Christian militia, who then drove the bulk of  the Muslim population out of the south.  The armed groups in a release after the peace deal said, “The fighters of all the armed groups accept and commit to putting a definitive end to the armed conflicts in Central African Republic. They are committed to disposing their arms and renouncing armed fighting as a means of making political claims and to enter into the process of Disarmament, Demobilisation, Reinsertion and Repatriation (DDRR)," AJAZEERA quoted.

Appreciating the move, the head of the UN Mission to CAR, General Babacar Gaye said, “On the path towards peace, the step made today is a very important one."  The armed factions had earlier agreed to free all child soldiers and other children used as sex slaves or menial workers.